1 Chapter 1 - A KINGDOM’S FALL(1)
"Please, have mercy!"
The panicked screams of terrified villagers filled the streets of Donsac...
Dark-ominous clouds seemed to manifest out of nowhere, blanketing the entire kingdom. Above the shouts of the frightened and injured villagers, a villainous and heartless voice rang out; demanding more blood and suffering.
Most of the villagers scrambled through the street; searching for help and hiding places with no luck; while others fought and sacrificed their lives to protect their loved ones from the cruel-merciless demons.
"Here!" a villager urgently informs his spouse-who instantly yanks his two children's hand carefully out of view, "stay here and don't make a sound" he instructed as he placed them into a small-cracked opening in the first floor of an abandoned building
"No, I don't want to!" his younger son begs with heavy tears spewing from his terrified eyes as he wraps his hands around his father's leg, "I know...I know, but you have to, remember what we talked about?"
"I-if I listen to dada...and papa the-then everything will be o-k"
"Yes, so listen to dada and papa, ok?"
"Ok," he wiped the tears from his eyes and reached for his older brother's hand, "it's time, and don't come out until it's safe"
"We love you bot-"
"We found two more!" a rough voice shouts out from a close distance while stomping towards them with heavy breathing as he holds a large and heavy sigil-engraved falchion in his cicatrix left hand, "any last words?"
"Ru-"
The bodies of every dead and living villagers were crucified on a high wooden beam; then burnt for the prince and his husband to witness.
The entire kingdom was now, not only blanketed in darkness; but it was also blanketed in screams of agony, depraved energies, and the slaughters of innocent souls; which attracted corrupted-hungry spirits, and with that soon to follow the end of Donsac.
*
"You're Majesty!" a servant greeted with a bow after placing a plate of grapes on the nearest table to where the Prince is standing; gazing out at the balcony at the horrifying terror being bestowed upon his kingdom and the villagers, "you may leave" he replied to the maid without diverting his gaze
"If you don't mind, your magnificence...it has been hours, and your fiancé is getting worried about your well-being and if you are planning to join"
"Tell him to start without me...I'll join in a short while and tell him that-"
'I'm fine...'
He recited those words constantly in his mind for the last four hours; he tried to think of a solution that wouldn't get him or anyone else killed, but all the ideas that ran through his mind would cause more pain and suffering to the remaining people taking refuge in the castle.
Yet, he felt numb from every part of his body, more so, his feelings and emotions were too; he knew he was sad and scared but at the same time; he didn't
"Yes, Your Majesty"
He released a heavy suffocating breath once the desired sound of the two large steel doors finally slammed shut, signifying that he was once again; alone
The deafening cries silenced all the commotion as it ringed through the kingdom; all the way down to the dungeon, obtaining terrifying screams from the slaves.
The cries were soon followed by the thick, black burning fumes which scorched through the kingdom, carrying with it the rancid stench of the bodies consumed by flames; receiving poisonous coughs and suffocations from a few of the royal members, the royal guards, and the tortured-screaming slaves locked up in the furthest reach of the locked dungeon; waiting for the fumes or the executioner to kill them.
The servant shoved his way forcefully into the crowded armory, "your excellency, the prince will join in a bit, but he wants you to start without him"
"I see...since as you're here, go to the basement and turn on the filters"
"Will do" the servant takes a swift bow before sprinting through the smoke-filled halls to the basement
"That will only last for a while, what will happen when Caine and his army reach the castle?" The Royal Grand Master makes his way through the crowded room and into view, "I don't know, yet, but we will soon"
"And by 'soon'...you mean?"
"I have ordered one of the guards to retrieve a seer from the dungeon, she will inform us on what the strategy and actions that we should take"
"And what if she refuses?"
"She won't" He diverted his glare with a sly grin as he searched around for a specific weapon; his secondary weapon
The way to the dungeon was perfidious; if it wasn't for years of practice and training; then the guard and anyone who dared to enter, wouldn't be able to escape it, at least, without being clouded by it's influence or killed.
From an outsider's view, the dungeon seemed to be intent on disciplining the slaves; but from an insider's view, the dungeon was way more than that of its innocent glamour; it tormented and broke not only the slave's body but also their minds.
The guard clutched the seer in his grasp, dragging her by her light-yellow hair through the hallway; she struggled and resisted but the punched she received in her stomach that the guard inflicted made it almost impossible.
"I-i beg your...p-pity-" she gripped her leg around a wooden display table while begging for the mercy that she hoped she would receive, "p-please, have mercy!"
"I don't take pity or mercy upon scums!" the guard sent another fierce and angry punch into the seer's face, rendering her unconscious, "if I could, I would slit your filthy throat right now...you fucking piece of sh-"
"What do think you're doing?!" the prince loudly vociferates at the unjust view laid out before him, "y-your m-majesty, it-it's not what it looks like!"
"Then tell me why an injured-abused prisoner is laying on the floor of my castle!" the prince demands while striding towards the guard with intimidating paces, "she-she tried to attack me!" the guard lies, receiving a smirk from the prince
"Do you want to know something?" he asks calmly, obtaining a confused expression from the guard, "yes, your majesty" the guard replies with a sudden bow; submitting to the ethereal prince
"I hate demons; I hate dark magic; but what I hate the most is-" the prince reached into his back pocket unsheathing a sun crust dagger, "I was wrong, forgive me!" he pleaded, gazing into the prince's warm-angry emerald eyes...
"Unjust and prejudicative people" the prince continued...
The rage burning in his mind was feral...
"Run, before I kill you!" he shouted and the guard reacted almost instantly-forcing his body to stand and using all his strength to recede out of sight...
-
The guard raced down the stage; almost tripping.
He ran out of the castle, through the smoke, and into the royal garden; searching behind every moment for any danger or the prince.
He finally came to a stop when he felt sure that he was safe; he slowly crouched down to catch his breath and for a seconds rest, "that fucking princ-ah-"
A piercing cold touch clutched his neck, "I sense anger and corruptness from you; you would make a good fit for my army" a low-graceful voice admires; using her other hand to fiercely cup against the horrified guard's face, "what's your name?, My pretty"
"P-ponch..."
